Want to change the world?

Self-Consciousness

“...when there is transformation in your own consciousness, there is proportional and corresponding transformation in the world, in the reality of your experience. In transforming yourself, you transform the world in which you exist.”

                                  Tau Malachi (The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas)

There are times in our lives when we look at the world and just want to throw up our hands and resign. It's crazy; it's upside down, unjust, and chaotic. People are killing each other for all the wrong reasons and it seems the whole human species is driven by desire for power and control. We may feel helpless to change anything, much less the world.

Yet there is that hundredth monkey phenomenon. Even though the original research, carried out by Japanese scientists in the 1970's, has been questioned, we can see its occurrence in human culture. The original research involved macaque monkeys. One monkey got the idea to wash sweet potatoes, and that behavior quickly spread through the tribe. Then monkeys on another island began to wash their food. It was deduced that when a critical number of initiates is reached, the new skill, or awareness, spreads to others even though they may be distant from the original group. Carl Jung would say this has to do with change in collective consciousness--the consciousness we share with others of our species.

When enough of us move to a higher level of awareness, we will pull others with us. Here's one real-world example: In 1996, Bill Clinton signed the defense of marriage act declaring marriage to be only between a man and woman. At the time, a majority of the citizens agreed. Now, 17 years later, some 90% of Americans want that changed to include gay/lesbian couples. Our consciousness on this subject has changed. Even though there are those who still oppose, most of us now view a couple's ability to marry as a civil-right. The rules should apply equally. Same with the overturning of "Don't ask-Don't tell." This week, when an NBA player announced he is gay, there was almost a collective yawn. That shift in consciousness has happened in less than 20 years.

These leaps forward will be more frequent when human beings realize that change within brings about change without. The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, Verse 3, states it this way: “When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons [and daughters] of the living father.”

                                                In the spirit,

                                                   Jane